Scenes from a Chinese 'Getai'

[Merelyok]

A Getai (歌台), which literally translates into Song-Stage is a live stage performance that is held during the Chinese Ghost festival (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_Festival) , commonly found in regions such as Singapore & Malaysia.

These performances are in a sense tribute to the spirits. Set admist a backdrop of colorful props, costumes and kitschy lights and music, i reckon it would have made an ecletic mix of elements and headed down with my trusty M6 loaded with Tri-X.

I honestly tried to capture some of the on goings on stage but the sheer number of people that blocked the tiny side passage to the stage made it an impossible task. I went off photographing the people at the performance instead.

Here are some shots.

It was challenging, to say the least, considering how i was constantly being jostled for viewing space. But the festival lasts for another 2 weeks and i'll be heading down to other performances to get some more shots!

 

[BillBingham2]

Wonderful stuff. Please share more from your next trip. Very cool.

Thanks.

B2 (;->

 

[payasam]

Good work in the tradition of reportage. Might be an idea to get a couple of dozen shots more and then ruthlessly edit them down to, say, six.

 

[Merelyok]

Good work in the tradition of reportage. Might be an idea to get a couple of dozen shots more and then ruthlessly edit them down to, say, six.

Thanks BillBingham2 and payasam.

payasam, i plan to do exactly that. In fact, i have quite a number of similar shots from my first roll but i picked the one where i feel certain nuances are present to 'complete' the feel of a shot.

 

[OurManInTangier]

I like your people shots and there are a few nice ones in amongst this lot too. Lots of photos taken during the rest of the festival and some ruthless editing and you'll have a superb collection of images covering it. I look forward to seeing them.

Are you based in Singapore?

 

[Merelyok]

I like your people shots and there are a few nice ones in amongst this lot too. Lots of photos taken during the rest of the festival and some ruthless editing and you'll have a superb collection of images covering it. I look forward to seeing them.

Are you based in Singapore?

Thanks, OMIT! yes i am.

I do hope i can find the time to continue to photograph this event. I just started work ( nothing photography related ), so i try to squeeze in some time in the evening to photograph, developing and scanning the negatives the following day.

 

[OurManInTangier]

I was over in Singapore for a short time at the end of July this year, the first time I'd been back since I was a fifteen ( twenty years ago.) I love the place and think its a photographer's heaven. The mix of old and new, hugely differing cultures, the buzz and activity on the streets...fantastic. Most people always say its a very sanitised version of the rest of Asia and, yes it is, but it has its own charm and life to it thats like nowhere else.

Unfortunately I was passing through for work and didn't get to go out with my cameras; they were shipped straight out to Australia ahead of me....very, very stupid of me!

Good luck with both the event and your new job, lets see some of these in the gallery when you get a chance.

Cheers

 

[BillBingham2]

Yo Simon,

Pick up a Ricoh GRD dude and just keep it in your pocket. If you're a snob for film, get a Ricoh GR1v or GR21. Then ship all the other stuff ahead.

B2 (;->

 

[amateriat]

Really good stuff here. Eager to see more, of course. These photos do shimmer nicely.


- Barrett

 

[OurManInTangier]

Yo Simon,

Pick up a Ricoh GRD dude and just keep it in your pocket. If you're a snob for film, get a Ricoh GR1v or GR21. Then ship all the other stuff ahead.

B2 (;->

Anything, ANYTHING...would have done me, except the crappy digi point and shoot I had with me that died under mysterious circumstances in the heat and humidity.

Maybe it would pay to be a film snob😀

 

[Merelyok]

It def. pays to be a film snob, Simon.

amateriat, thank you. I believe the pre-asph lux i used for these shots impart a certain charm to them 😛

As promised, a few more shots, this time in Neopan 1600. (slightly larger this time round)

Best,
Wilfred